A helium shortage is threatening to let the air out of Valentine's Day sales for some florists and party stores.

Though flowers and chocolates are more common tokens of love, helium-filled balloons are popular as bouquets or added to floral arrangements. But as the global scarcity of helium intensifies, local retailers are reporting it difficult or impossible to get their tanks refilled and, in some cases, the price of helium has ballooned.

Georgianna Gleason fills a Valentine's Day balloon with helium at Trochta's Flowers & Greenhouses. David McDaniel - The Oklahoman

Capitol Hill Florist & Gifts in Oklahoma City ran out of helium about two weeks ago, said owner Kent Whitnah. Neither of his two suppliers can refill his tanks, but he did find a source for pre-filled helium balloons for Valentine's Day. The florist typically sells about 100 Mylar balloons for the holiday a week away.

Trochta's Flowers & Greenhouses is facing a similar situation. The retailer is nearly out of helium and has already received the stack of balloons it ordered for Valentine's Day. Trochta's Maggie Barrett said a supplier promised her a shipment this week.

“We are waiting with bated breath to get our shipment in,” she said. “I'm supposed to get two tanks.”

And though Party Galaxy stores haven't run out of helium and expect to have enough for Valentine's Day, the nine-store Oklahoma City-based retailer has raised the prices on its balloons to recapture some of the increase it has been paying for helium — as much as 60 to 70 percent more in the last year and a half, said co-owner Mike Dillon.

He expects the stores to blow up 50,000 helium balloons on Wednesday and Feb. 14 for Valentine's Day at a cost of about $1.99 each.

“We've been stockpiling as much (helium) as we can because Valentine's is such a big balloon holiday,” Dillon said. Graduation, another big balloon holiday, is still up in the air.

What's causing the shortage?

Helium, the second-most abundant element in the universe (after hydrogen), has uses beyond balloons: cooling MRI machines, filling blimps and manufacturing semiconductors, like for iPhones. Because helium is a byproduct of natural gas extraction, low natural gas prices have reduced helium production, according the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which manages the Federal Helium Program.

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by Jennifer Palmer

Investigative Reporter

Jennifer Palmer joined The Oklahoman staff in 2008 and, after five years on the business desk, is now digging deeper through investigative work. She's been recognized with awards in public service reporting and personal column writing. Prior to...